I'm working alone at night in Kitami. It's not a joke. I start work after 9 pm, so I come early, have dinner, visit a few places, and by the time I get home it's around midnight. I was finally able to take a break from drinking. I even had a beer when I got home, which is quite an accomplishment. I thought I would write about "Naruto" here, which is open from 4 pm, but I couldn't before because it's impossible to be in Kitami after 4 pm unless you're here to drink. I called and made a reservation. A lady answered. I ordered "chicken wings" and "chicken skin chips". The lady wasn't very friendly, but she wasn't too bad either. She's better than the person who answered the phone. Both dishes were delicious. The chicken skin chips were crispy and had a nice aroma, perfect for snacking with beer. The chicken wings were lightly seasoned, letting the quality of the meat speak for itself. They weren't exceptional ingredients, but they were good. I should have ordered more. I have a feeling this place is better than Abashiri. The simple seasoning really brings out the flavors. Overall, a good experience.

There are new and clean new stores opening up everywhere, but there is one in my town too. It's called "Naruto" and it's located on a quiet street just off the bustling downtown area. I'm not sure how long it's been open, but the store itself is not very clean. I visited about 5 years ago and the lady at the store told me they only serve "chicken wing gyoza," so I left. The same lady was there this time as well. She said it would take about 15 minutes to fry them, so I paid and waited in my car. After about 10 minutes, the lady came out with a plastic bag - "Bone-in Zangi" for 600 yen. The Zangi had different parts and each had a unique taste. They were crispy on the outside and not too salty, with a nice chicken flavor. It's different from the Zangi I had at the "Naruto" store in JR Otaru Station, but it was quite delicious. I want to try their half-fried chicken next time and enjoy it like a Gourmet.

While searching for restaurants in Kitami, I came across a place called "Naruto Kitami Store." I wondered if it had any connection to the Naruto in Otaru. It turned out to be a takeout-only shop. I decided to order from there for dinner in my hotel room. I called ahead to place my order and then went to pick it up. I ordered the Large Half Chicken Karaage for 1200 yen (tax included). The shop was located on a not-so-clean street, tucked away from the main nightlife area. Inside, there was a seasoned lady working alone. The karaage was already prepared, so I paid and took it back to my hotel. The packaging was a bit oily. The karaage looked and tasted very similar to the one in Otaru. The seasoning was a bit lighter, which was just right for me. It was almost like plain fried chicken, just like in Otaru. It was unexpectedly delicious. It's always nice to have these kinds of encounters. Thank you for the meal.

It was delicious.

◆January 2016◆ Last week, I had half fried chicken and it was delicious, so I decided to get it again. This time, I bought bone-in zangi, chicken wing cheese, and chicken skin crackers. It's convenient to reserve in advance and buy without waiting. When I got home, I immediately had a drink. Just like at Torimatsu in Kushiro, bone-in zangi is the best. The chicken skin crackers also go really well with beer, it's dangerously good! ◆January 2016◆ I felt like eating chicken while having a beer for some reason. I looked up if there's a place in Kitami that sells half fried chicken and found a shop that's a branch of Otaru's "Naruto". They only do takeout from 3 pm on Sundays. The Abashiri branch only operates during the day, but it's the opposite in Kitami. It's located on a side street off Yamashita Street where there's a tempura place called Ebikura. Since there's no parking, it's best to call ahead and quickly pick up your order. [About the menu] It's slightly different from the Abashiri branch. They only have a special large size for 1200 yen. They also have bone-in zangi, chicken wing dumplings, and chicken skin chips. I ordered the young chicken half fried. It takes about 20 minutes, so I wandered around nearby while waiting. When I got home, I immediately had a drink. The seasoning is simple with just salt and pepper. It's moist and juicy, and still delicious. I always think I should stop halfway, but I can't stop. In the end, I finished the entire half by myself. The downside is that the smell of oil in the shop, being a fried food place, is strong.

I used to frequent "Naruto" in Otaru. When I moved to Kitami and found out there was a "Naruto" here, I was thrilled. The location is a bit hard to find, but the taste is really good! The crispy chicken skin and the level of saltiness are just to my liking. When you enter the shop and place your order, they kindly say, "If you have a car, please wait over there." After waiting in the car for about 10 minutes, they bring the food to you. It's a bit inconvenient to park in front of the apartment building across the street, but... It's convenient to make a reservation by phone and pick up your order right away.

The location is in the back alley of a restaurant district, with no parking lot available. The establishment is solely for purchasing souvenirs after drinking, so a parking lot is not necessary. The shop has a prefabricated appearance, and customers wait on round stools after ordering. There is a strong smell of oil used to fry the young chicken. While waiting for about 10 minutes after ordering, it's not a big deal, but staying for a long time may make you feel uncomfortable. The staff is generally friendly, but can come off as assertive due to dealing with drunk customers. I ordered a large portion of fried half a young chicken for around 1100 yen. The taste was decent at first, but the oil flavor didn't sit well with me. The unique smell of the oil used in the shop seemed to transfer to the chicken, and even after a day, the scent didn't fade. Considering the size and price, I realized that the portion I could eat was limited and I wasn't completely satisfied. While I understand that it's a half portion, for 1100 yen, I felt it was a bit underwhelming. In extreme terms, I think buying a party barrel from a fast food chain would offer more to eat. Unlike grilled chicken, this item is fried. Overall, if you enjoy unique scents that stimulate your appetite, this souvenir is worth a try.

I visited a shop in Otaru and became addicted to their dish, so I decided to buy it. It is a very simple dish of half a chicken, seasoned with salt and deep-fried, but it has such a deep flavor that makes you wonder why. If this shop were in Tokyo, I would definitely visit it regularly! In terms of quantity, it would be roughly enough for two people to share a half chicken (although a man might finish a half chicken by himself).

The half-fried chicken at this place is addictive. As I'm getting older, I find greasy fried food hard to handle, but this one has a salty flavor that makes it easy to eat. I recommend making a reservation by phone.